“I intend to make this an annual event, being home and not anywhere else. We can have the preliminaries outside, but coming home for finals because it helps us to market our home base, St Vincent and the Grenadines. Some aspect of this show is making a meaningful contribution to our economy,” Pearl Williams, the franchise brand owner told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday.

The pageant is scheduled to take place at the Sunset Shores hotel on Saturday, April 20 at 8pm.

Williams said that the contestants will take part in the pre-judged category in the form of an Empowerment Platform Speech.

And they will make appearances in national dress, swimwear, talent and evening what on the night of the show.

She added that persons sometimes criticise the show, by saying that it promotes obesity. But she said that it is about promoting confidence and showing persons how to live a healthy lifestyle.
“…Very soon, we should have elements from the health department. I’m trying to write to UNICEF to be on board with us. We are not promoting the fat but showing you how to live a healthy lifestyle, how you can diet, how you can control weight and at same time, be self confident and empower women more,” she said.

Williams explained that three queens will be crowned on the night of the show; Miss Lifetime Queen, who reigns for life as a plus size delegate; Miss Campaign Queen, who will use her platform to build confidence and speak on issues; and the overall winner, Miss Plus size Universe.

The contestants who have already arrived said that they are enjoying their time so far and looking forward to participating in the pageant.

The 45-year-old is a director of Miss Plus Size Diva in Barbados and won her first title at a pageant in St Maarten last December.

Although this is not her first pageant, Anabel Rollins, Miss St Lucia said that she has never won the crown. But persons can expect her to display her talent, beauty and intellect on the night of the show.

Keturah George, Miss Grenada is a police officer and calypsonian and this pageant is her “maiden voyage” into pageantry.

“My motivation was to showcase what people of my size can do…and to take a risk, a chance and challenge myself,” she told SEARCHLIGHT. “…put something out there for plus sized women that says we are more than just a look, more than just a stigma…and we are just as normal and talented as everyone else.”

Sylvanna Charles, Miss British Virgin Islands has been participating in pageants since she was 10 and has won several titles since then.

And she is promising “a lot of good energy” and positivity radiating from her on the night of the show.

Victoria Brovuna, Miss Latvia is a restaurateur and mother of two girls.

And she told SEARCHLIGHT that she is participating in the pageant to show her daughters that they can be confident in themselves, no matter what.

Brovuna said that she is enjoying her time in St Vincent; the people are friendly and the island is very clean.

Mila Kuznecova, Miss Ukraine wants to take the crown back to her country and help plus size pageants to become more popular in her country.

“Before…in Ukraine, only regular pageants and models you see but now, in the two last years, it [plus sized pageants] have just started being popular,” she said, with the help of a translator.

Like Brovuna, she said that she has been enjoying her time in St Vincent.

The schedule of activities before the show also includes a press conference, interviews with local media including Extreme Radio and SVGTV, and a Beauty and Health Talk for the delegates.

Other delegates are scheduled to arrive in St Vincent and the Grenadines for the show. These include representatives from Haiti and South Africa.

A contestant from St Vincent and the Grenadines will also take part in the pageant.

Persons interested in attending may purchase tickets at Diamond Girl for EC$50.